Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Watford vs Man United

As we bid farewell to international football for the next four months, Watford’s home tie against Manchester United signifies the return to domestic action. The former head into this fixture off the back of a 2-1 road defeat to Leiciester City, while United are in the midst of a four-match unbeaten streak.

Watford’s success this term had been predicated on a solid base – only today’s opponents United (one) have conceded fewer home goals (four) than the Hornets. That being said, only four sides surrendered more big chances (eight) in the last four Gameweeks, which serves as encouragement for Louis van Gaal’s ailing attack. Exposing their relative lack of threat at the other end, Watford rank second-bottom for shots on target (37).

In the last four Gameweeks, no team managed fewer attempts (34) than the Red Devils. In fact, over the course of the campaign, Van Gaal’s men place last for shots inside the box (63). On the flip side, United lay claim to the best defensive record (eight goals conceded) and have notched the most clean sheets (eight). Furthermore, they chart in the bottom three for big chances conceded (13).

1,819 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JayBomb
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Please don't come on Mane.

    1. KingNidge
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      he will

    2. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      this ^^ - have Ighalo as my first sub
      Wouldn't mind a Mane second half cameo with another fastest ever pl hat trick though 😀

    3. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      I highly doubt.

      1. JayBomb
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        I may as well just except that Mane will come on and score a Hatty!!!

    4. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Please, come on and score a couple of goals, Mané!

  2. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Thats it. I'm done with Mane...!!!!

    More of a troll than Lukaku these days

    1. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      was half expected 1st game back after internationals - happened last time too

  3. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Jones, I love you again. < 3

  4. fickle
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Big shout out to Rojo today for wiping out all the Man United clean sheets

    1. KOLASINA(C)
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      -11111111111111111111

    2. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      gutted - cost me 8 points

    3. SirStevieG
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      As a Rojo owner - well in son!

  5. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Can't believe we're top of the league. Solid and not spectacular at all.

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      It's a good start. They'll only improve as the season wears on.

      1. Sasquatch Slayer
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        That's the hope

    2. Sunny 😎
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      I can't believe we are 16th either

    3. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      We seem to be getting better at least. Played well for the majority of the game, and created a hatful of chances (which weren't taken...).

    4. KingNidge
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      massive 3 points and a nice run right up to the new year now

      1. BbBb
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        +1

    5. Mr. Grv
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      We had loads of chances to finish the game but I think we did ok.

    6. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Proves how important it is to prevent goals.

    7. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      you'll be fourth in a few hours

    8. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah we've not been playing well at all but grinding out results - really hope Memphis can kick on after today and start to show his obvious potential, was a great finish and he looked lively all game
      Would quite like Rooney to stay out of the team for a while, might have to buck up his ideas on his return then

    9. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Easy tiger. Might be 4th in two hours.

      1. Arvin-ation
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        3rd*

      2. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Wait...make it five hours!

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 5 months ago

          If Jose was doing it with Chelsea everybody would have been complaining boring boring Chelsea and for Utd is just ok..??

          1. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 5 months ago

            People are complaining. It doesn't contradict that it's effective football.

            Today was a brilliant win. Away from home and shorn of Martial and Rooney. Schweinsteiger had the experience to just get them over the line. I learned a lot about them this match

      3. Granville
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Doesn't matter really. Within a couple of points makes hardly any difference.

        1. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 5 months ago

          Ok. But you probably weren't saying "I can't believe we're 4th and only a couple of points behind top of the league" last week.

          Fair play though, it's striking distance. It's Mourinho-esque of old. It's where great teams start.

    10. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      what was noticeble is how young the side that finished the game was.
      it might take another season and a centre-half and a centre-forward but they're going to be challenging next year - maybe sooner if they can do some business in January.

  6. Parm
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Still cannot believe the referee fell for that penalty.

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      It was a penalty, let's be honest. He was already going down but Rojo struck him.

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        He's always feeling for it, you could see the referee wasn't at all convinced.

        1. FISSH
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 5 months ago

          clear pen. Rojo can't tackle

    2. Mr. Grv
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      He was going down but rojo shouldn't have committed.

    3. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      yeah was a pen, silly challenge when he didn't have to jump in

    4. Hypnos
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      100% penalty

    5. Bob.
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Looked like a pen to me. He stuck his left leg out

  7. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    What game are we all watching?

    1. Özilla Firefox
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      WBA v ARS

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      City

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Arsenal 🙂

      2. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        leicester?

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 5 months ago

          I was ahead of myself.

  8. Crouching Tiger
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Manchester United. Top of the table.

    1. alfast1c
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      +10

  9. Sasquatch Slayer
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Wildcard time

  10. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    As a United fan I was mad when Rojo gave away that penalty. But i just want to thank him for wiping out all the United CS points. Well done mate. that was great.

  11. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    2 hours make or break the weekend upcoming. I am ready. Bring it ooon!!

  12. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    3pts here

    Any gud?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      5 pts (-8)

      😎

    2. KOLASINA(C)
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Could have been 11...

      1. Gooner97
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Another red arrow

  13. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Any other Ighalo benchers happy with the assist? Took out united CS

    1. Zizoulicious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Played him 😉

    2. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Oh aye...he helped take a lot of pts out of the game for non United defensive owners...

    3. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Yes, my rival has De Gea. But I'd want Ighalo to do well regardless (ok not too well)

    4. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      As a Ighalo non-owner I'm happy with the Watford goal points since it took off the much more popular ManU defence points - and it is just the icing on the cake that Ighalo owners tended to bench him!

  14. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero rising tonight. Have just enough to do Pelle to Aguero. Hope he doesn't get injured tonight or midweek.

  15. Mull
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    How did Deeney score an OG? Was it at a set piece?

    1. Mr. Grv
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Last ditch clearance went wrong.

    2. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Schweinsteiger shot across goal, Deeny slid in to block it and inadvertently slid into the goal carrying the ball with him.

    3. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      How dare you try to belittle his first open play goal

  16. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Beef in the BT Sports studio 😆

    1. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      James getting grief

  17. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Was clutching at straws that gabriel would play... Janmaat off the bench

  18. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Begovic ✅
    Cedric ✅
    Willian ✅
    Sanchez ✅
    Mahrez ✅
    Pelle ✅
    Vardy ✅
    Lukaku (C) ✅

    Let's do this 😎 Kolarov, KDB and Souaré for tomorrow and MNF

  19. Vasty Deep
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Is kompany likely to be back next GW?

  20. Zizoulicious
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    So definitely can't lose Ighalo for Kane or Aguero. But can either Lukaku or Vardy make way!?

    1. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Tough isn't it.....Tjat's why I was posting that I'd sooner he didn't come back.

      I have that same front line and it's a really nice enabler for the rest of the squad.

      1. Zizoulicious
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Indeed. Agree with you on Aguero coming back taking some fun out of the game.

        And it is a great enabler, but unless hazard starts firing and silva comes back, I don't know where to spend the money in midfield. No one that really stand out for me, and I haven't got rid of Payet still.

    2. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Really difficult choice. I'm going to end up with Aguero, Ighalo & Vardy but I'll be behind the couch whenever Kane or Lukaku play. Can't have them all though

      1. Zizoulicious
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Exactly, can't have them all. I've been behind the couch with Kane for a while, having nearly brought him in before the Bournemouth game ....

      2. FantaCity
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        I'll have Ighalo, Vardy, ad whichever of Kane / Aguero impresses most this weekend

    3. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      I'm keeping Ighalo until gw18 with Kane and Lukaku - will look to bring in Kun after that. Hopefully he doesn't explode until then

      1. Zizoulicious
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Solid plan. But then if Vardy doesn't slow down, it could hurt you.. But can't have them all!

  21. troller
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    who should i get for federico fernandez and mcauley next week other defenders: bellerin dier bennet

  22. HP.
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Hopefully mane doesn't come on, got Ighalo first sub

    1. Teddy Brewski
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      x2

      Double Man Utd defence hurt

      1. BbBb
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        yep, Smalling & Rojo here 🙁

      2. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 5 months ago

        Yep same

    2. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      same - unless he gets a hatty of course

  23. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Absolutely gutted about Smalling and DDG getting feck all thanks to Rojo.

  24. RiflaFC
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Does anyone know why Azpi is benched?

    1. Sasquatch Slayer
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      This . His best defender

  25. New article
  26. Kaizer
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    My only realistic option to get Kun is to do Pelle to Ighalo then Kane to Aguero. Sound good? All free.

    Will see how they all get on this weekend of course.

  27. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone tempted to bring in Depay? 🙂

    1. KingNidge
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      not at all

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Nope

    3. BbBb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      yes but not just yet... he needs a run in the team and consistency before I'll consider him again (had him from the start of the season)

  28. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Herrera injury is good news for Lingard right?

    I'm tempted by him as an Aguero enabler,Surman /Gosling meh

    1. Bob.
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      He could really be a bargain if he keeps starting. Looks lively and should have scored

  29. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    Vardy owners you are in for a treat. Sold him this morning and I am cursed this season.

    1. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks for that!

      Yours,

      the Vardy captainers.

  30. Bob.
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 5 months ago

    'Sylvain Distin is the 1st outfield player from outside the UK to make 450 BPL starts'

    Would be a good quiz question! Interesting one